*update Babies 1-1-12*!!! And some New questions

[WhiteWaterFarms]

OK, our oldest doe was 8 months when we got her in June, she had one heat in late June early July and after that we haven't seen anymore "heats" from her.
She's started to get bigger udders and belly. She lives with our only buck and our African pygmy....so we can't be sure when she got pregnant if she is pregnant.
As to why the buck is with the girls, we had a room for him, but the coyote's got in the room. Our big dog got there and scared them away and we got there seconds later. So until we can get the room coyote proofed (it's a really old barn) he's with the girls.

So here is the questions:
1. Do I need to worry about her being to young?
2. could she be pregnant? or just putting on weight? (they get free range goat feed and hay)
3. Anything i need to do to keep the baby safe if she is pregnant? (i got her on milking goat food cause the co-op said it would help if she was pregnant.

Pic's

Now about the buck, anyone know what breed he is? (we love him he goes "Waaa-t" it sound like his going "what?" it's cute!)

*

 

[elevan]

1. Do I need to worry about her being to young?
Yes, you do need to be concerned. Her body may not be developed enough to pass a kid through. Her hips look so narrow. Have a vet on stand by in case a c-section is needed.


2. could she be pregnant? or just putting on weight? (they get free range goat feed and hay)
It's definitely possible. In the rear shot of her, it looks like she's developing an udder. Is that correct? If she is then she is most likely pregnant (unless she is precocious).


3. Anything i need to do to keep the baby safe if she is pregnant? (i got her on milking goat food cause the co-op said it would help if she was pregnant.
It sounds like this is your first kidding? Find yourself a goat farmer close by or a vet that can be there to assist.
Don't overfeed, you don't want the kid to get huge. Sounds like she'd be due early to mid December, so be prepared.
Here's a page on goat kidding: http://www.backyardherds.com/web/viewblog.php?id=586-goats-kidding


As to your side question on your buck's heritage. He looks like a pygmy cross to a dairy breed.

How old is your pygmy doe? She looks pretty young...she could be bred as well.

 

[WhiteWaterFarms]

No, goat farmers around here will do anything....one that offered to answer questions hung up on me when i needed her the most (i cut to deep on the hoof trimming and couldn't get her to stop bleeding).

Our large animal vet is going under and working at a stable so she doesn't come. We're trying to find a new vet.

Yes she started to get a bigger uder and tits.

Yes, first kidding we were going to wait untill cashmere was older but then this happened.

The pygmy doe, misty, we don't know how old she is, but she has come into heat, two months after we got her. we brought her to the house and she stayed with the chickens for a while...but we haven't seen anymore "heats". But she's alittle scary and hides alot so it's hard to tell.

Can a vet do a c-section at the barn or the vets office? or would we have to go to TN's big animal hospital?
The cashmere is small for her to be due in dec.....i don't know if that's good or bad.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

I'm guessing if Misty hasn't come back into heat there is a very good chance she's bred too.

I don't know if a C-section can be done at home but given your not even sure if you can get a vet to come I'd be planning for a trip to the big animal hospital.

Does don't have to look hugely pregnant to have a big baby in there. This is my doe 9 days before she gave birth to a nearly 9 pound buckling.

I had to help a little but I've had experience with lambs, calves and foals so goats aren't much different. Given this is your first time you definitely want to be prepared to get a vet in or take her to one if something's not right. Good luck!

 

[Roll farms]

I would be more concerned w/ the smaller doe than the bigger one.

The reason being, the bigger one's not done growing. It looks like she will be bigger than the buck. USUALLY, breeding a smaller buck to a bigger doe means easy kidding. Yes, she's young - but if she kids at 13 mos. it doesn't have to be the end of the world...she may do fine. I've (purposely) had does kid at 12 mos (kiko crosses) and they did fine.
Where you could have problems is if she has a single big kid. Twins are generally smaller / easier.

The smaller doe could have problems delivering kids sired by a bigger buck. It's been my experience that pygmies are slightly more prone to kidding problems from overly-large kids than standard breeds.

One thing to avoid - DO NOT overfeed her the last 4 wks of pregnancy. Don't starve her, of course, but kids do the bulk of their growing in that last 30 days and you may think you're 'helping' her by giving more grain, but you'll be making bigger kid(s). I would guesstimate that 1-1.5 cup of grain morning and evening should be plenty for her, along w/ free choice hay. I would think 1/2-3/4 cup for the pygmy doe.
Once she's kidded, you can gradually up her grain and give her alfalfa hay or pellets, she will need it then to produce milk / regain her condition.

I would definitely try to find a vet, just in case, and build a rapport before you need them.
A C-section CAN be done in the barn...but it'd be safer and cheaper at a clinic.

You might consider getting some BoSe (selenium / vitamin E combo injection) for her, esp. if you're in a selenium deficient area.
I always vaccinate my does 5 wks before they kid with CD/T. Helps w/ kids getting passive immunity in the colostrum. I give them a BoSe shot 5 wks and 2 wks pre-kidding.
The BoSe makes for stronger kids, and may well help the doe w/ kidding.

Get a good goat mineral (not a block, not a cow or sheep mineral - Manna Pro goat mineral is available at TSC and is good for small herds) and put it out daily in a small bowl / feeder. They may not eat much, so just put out a bit at first. Mineral deficient goats have more kidding problems.

Keep in mind that if they actively push for more than 1 hour, someone (vet, you, goat friend) needs to go in and investigate.

Best of luck to you....

 

[WhiteWaterFarms]

She's had a CD/T when she was with the other owner would she need it again?
We have a cow farmer down the road from us would it have to be a goat person or could a sheep or cow farmer help?

Yes, i'm worried about the little girl too. Cause i know they can have problems, but the cashmere one showed first so we know she's due first.
We may get the vet to do a ultrasound on her and if she's pregnant and it's a single then we'll think about aborting it, if it's not to late.

Hopefully we can find a vet, and find one that can do payments if needed. Cause we don't have hundreds lying around.

*Edit to add*
is the BoSe a SQ or IM shot?
Also is it safe to worm her? she's having coughing spells but is other wise fine, no temp,eating good, active. So i'm thinking it's lungworms or dust. (the barn is dirt floor and dust stirs up easy, and the buck,Bolt, sneezes alot)

 

[elevan]

Finding a vet is important. Once you build a relationship with one then they'll usually work out payment...but if it's your first call they'll probably say all up front.

On CD/T - I prefer to give my does a shot 30 days prekidding. But if you can't just make sure you give the kid a shot at 1 week of age (a booster at 4-5 wks of age).

Don't automatically jump to lungworm just because she's coughed a few times. Here's a good thread for you to read on the coughing: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=15140

Bo-Se is IM injection and you need to obtain it from a vet.

On deworming...you don't want to give valbazen to a pregnant doe.

You could have a blood test done on the pygmy doe to check to see if she's bred. I would abort if she is.

 

[20kidsonhill]

a local sheep farmer could be a quit a bit of help, even a cattle farmer that has some experience with giving shots and giving oral medicines would be helpful.

I agree, I would considering be aborting the pygmy doe for her health. The other doe, looks big enough framed and old enough. We kid out at 13 and 14 months quit often.

 

[WhiteWaterFarms]

I have a lead on a possible vet for them, will call next week. We have a vet that use to do large and small animals, but when we asked about it when we brought in a cat they said they only do horses now and soon will just be doing small animals....it sucks cause they would have been great, we've been with them for 22 years or more and the vet is super nice, but he's older....so that maybe why they're not doing anymore.

I'll get the vet to do the blood taking for the little one cause I'm afraid I'd hurt her badly if i tried.
I wish I had someone that's done it before that could watch me. I'm not afraid of blood, I'm afraid of killing the animal. I'm still wiry of trimming hoofs because i hurt cashmere, but i know i have to get over it.

The pygmy is my moms and I talked it over with her and we will be aborting the baby if she pregnant, first to find out if she is.
Why is it that goat decide to get sick or need a vet when you don't have money? why not in summer....

 

[WhiteWaterFarms]

Update: I called the vet and they do goats, but they have to see her once before they can come for emergency's. So I'm going to call back tomorrow to talk with the vet and set up an appointment for a check up and ultrasound.

If she's pregnant anyone want to bet on when she kids? Winner can name the baby!